Congregations are invited to a Church of Scotland Day of Prayer

Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, is encouraging Church of Scotland congregations to join together in a special Day of Prayer on Saturday 29 November, the eve of St Andrew's Day.

The Moderator said this is a good date for the Church of Scotland to gather in prayer.

"There is very little about St Andrew in the Bible," she said. "He's remembered as the disciple who brought people to Jesus - his brother Peter, the boy with the loaves and fish, the ‘inquiring Greeks'.

"This year on the eve of St Andrew's Day can I encourage you to take part in the Church of Scotland Day of Prayer and come together to bring your prayers to Jesus.

"Make a space and a time to bring your prayers for your congregation, your community, the Church of Scotland, the church in Scotland and beyond to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," Mrs Frew added.

"Going back to Andrew and the boy with the loaves and fishes. We're told that all the leftovers from the feeding of the 5000 filled 12 large baskets. Just think what all our prayers together could do!"

Rev Tommy MacNeil, Convener of the Faith Action Leadership Team, said the day could include local gatherings for prayer in congregations or Presbyteries, perhaps opening a prayer room where people could be invited to come on their own or with others.

"We hope Churches throughout the length and breadth of our nation and beyond, will be able to join in for an hour at any time between 11am-8pm. But any churches that cannot join the prayers on that day or between those hours can choose a different day or time."

Worship materials

The Day of Prayer page in our worship section offers a wide range of materials including an adaptable outline for your gathering with prayers for all ages. You will also find a range of design materials from images for social media posts to mobile phone wallpaper.

Sign Up

People and congregations can sign up for any hour on 29 November that works best for them. Sign-Up

Watch

The first and last hours of the event 11am-12noon and 7-8pm will be available to watch on livestream to ensure anyone who cannot attend in person can take part online.

Visit the Day of Prayer page.

Plan now

In West Kilbride Rev James McNay's congregation are beginning to plan their day now.

"Sometimes it is hard for congregations", James says, "especially with all the recent pressures placed upon us, to remember that we are made for relationship with God and that He longs to speak with us.

"I am looking forward to the Church of Scotland Day of Prayer as a way of us seeking God as a church together throughout our nation - something we perhaps don't do enough. It is going to be a very powerful thing if we do this together.

"Here in West Kilbride, we have a prayer room in our church building which will be open on the day and we will sign up for our hour to pray and encourage people to join the livestreams if possible. We will also put together a prayer wall for people to write their prayers on sticky notes.

"Prayer is always a great reminder to us that it is God who builds the house - and without him, despite our best-intentioned plans - we labour in vain. I am excited what God might do among his people as we seek his face together and as he stirs us in prayer."

God's blessing

Tommy said that the Bible brings alive the power and blessing of us as the people of God coming together, through verses such as:

"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes… For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133v1-3)

"We believe such a day will encourage us with a sense of unity and solidarity as we look to God for His help and strength, and as we ask Him to lead us on towards a greater future."